Former UK Soldier Accused of Killing Kenya Woman Appears in Courtroom

An individual has been presented in court as deportation processes began in the case of Agnes Wanjiru, a Kenyan national, a female from Kenya who was found dead near a British forces camp in the year 2012.

The accused Robert Purkiss, 38 years old, who is hailing from Greater Manchester region, appeared before the magistrates' court in Westminster on Friday, and informed the court he intended to contest the deportation. Reports indicate that he was arrested on the evening of Thursday.

A detention order for the defendant was released by a court in Nairobi in the month of September. The prosecution told the Kenyan court that the accused had been facing a sole charge, of homicide, and that the Kenyan authorities would pursue his extradition to face charges.

Purkiss was once employed as a medical attendant with the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, the army unit for the English northwest, including on tours of Afghanistan.

The victim, 21, a beautician who had a baby daughter, disappeared after a night on the town, and her remains was located 60 days later in the grounds of the lodging where she had last been seen.

No one had earlier been detained or accused in connection to her demise. His detention was the result of a fresh police investigation, which was initiated after a report in 2021 by a Sunday newspaper, in which the media outlet approached several serving and ex-military personnel in the regiment.

The investigation has been headed by detectives in Kenya, which, under a mutual defense pact, retains jurisdiction in the case.